Phila., 10 May 1846
My Dear Friend,
Your favour of the 24th [alt. ?] has lain by me so long, from
a dire necessity, owing to the water cure, I have so little time & so little power of con-
centrating my thoughts even on favourite subjects, and moreover I have so much to do, that
I feel as if it were unavailing to make an attempt to get it out of the way. Is it not
singular moreover that, after staying away so long from Brook Farm on account
primarily of variolosis, I should have returned to Philadelphia & the water cure, to
be plunged into the midst of it. Our water doctor, & every one in his family, except myself
& the only two other patients, are or have been sufferers from it. But enough!
My health has much improved. In fact I felt better in
two days after I treated myself hydropathically. I have still some trouble in my
throat & lungs, although less; but the horrid nervous trouble is nearly gone. Cold
water would have relieved you of your biliousness also; but labour, if equally effective,
was probably the shorter course. I assume Mr Channing's disease to be nervous -
and both spiritual & bodily. If our Doctor was continuing here for 2 months
longer, & if it were March & not in May, I should certainly invite him to
try hydropathy. It would soon restore him; for the water cure produces, in my
experience, still higher spiritual than even physical restoration. If there was
only a fitting work for him, when he was restored!
The information conveyed in your letter of your movements
at B. F. is certainly very hopeful. You have accomplished much - more than I thought
you could. Perhaps there is no hope that a lady will change her opinions; but, as
it seems, abundant hope that she will change her measures. I feel as if Mrs Ripley
had saved her life by accepting assistance in the school. To accomplish this end was
